Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Marvel or the Avengers.
A/N: So let me explain why you are getting a chapter notification when this story is over and done with. I changed some things in the last part of this chapter. Though I started the sequel, it wasn't really resonating with me so I deleted it. As Olive mentions below, I needed to do some reconfiguring. I love Olive, but she needs more of a presence in my opinion. Hence, the new sequel which will be titled 730 days. It'll take place in the two year divide between Avengers and CA:WS and will focus mostly on Olive with hints of Olive/Steve. Thanks for your patience and keep a look out for 730 days. Thanks everyone!
Left hook.
Right jab.
Uppercut.
Jab.
"Switch."
Running forward, Olive grabbed her sword. She jumped into the air, slashing down and hitting against the dummy in front of her. She swung the sword over the dummy's head and swung it, hitting the dummy's side before she did the same move on the other side.
"Switch."
Olive back flipped away from the dummy, letting go of her sword when her hands touched the ground. She spun, swinging her leg around, her foot connecting with the punching bag she had been fighting early. She let her foot fall down and the momentum pull her forward into another set of punches.
Left hook.
Right jab.
Uppercut.
Jab.
Olive leaped up into the air once more, spinning and kicking the punching bag.
"Done."
Holding up her hands, Olive backed away from the punching bag. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, sweat pouring down her face, but she looked over to Natasha with a satisfied grin. "How was it?"
Natasha stood with her back pressed to the edge of the boxing ring, arms crossed. She gave Olive a slight smile. "Not bad. You're making up for it which is a good thing."
Olive nodded, moving to pick up her sword. The 'it' Natasha was referring to was her damaged 'superpower'. She had known that she'd have to figure out some compensate for what had been a huge advantage. Though she had trained in hand-to-hand combat upon joining S.H.E.I.L.D, she wasn't as strong as she probably should have been. That's why she knew she could rely on Natasha to help her train.
"I'll be tip top in no time with your help."
"Unless you leave. Then you'll have to train yourself." Not making eye contact, Olive put her sword in its sheath. She heard Natasha move towards her. "When does he leave?"
"I'm better now so he was talking about leaving Friday."
"You still haven't given him an answer." It wasn't a question. Natasha was too damn perceptive. Olive looked up to see the redhead shaking her head. "Is he going to leave without you?"
"I told him that he should."
"Why?"
"Because he deserves to get out there and explore and be free from following directions for a while."
"And you don't?"
"I don't know how." That was surprisingly easy to share. She was trying to get better about that, figuring it would save her a lot of trouble in the long run. She also realized that if she couldn't trust people like Natasha and Clint whom she had known for so long, she couldn't trust anyone. "I'm so used to this now. Order, structure, routine, training, missions, directives. . . . What the hell am I going to do out in the world?"
"Figure out who you are for starters," Natasha replied. "Don't you think you deserve that?"
Olive just shrugged. Maybe she did, maybe she didn't, who was to say. She sat down on the bench and was surprised when Natasha sat down next to her. "What about Steve?"
The swordswoman looked over to her friend. "What about Steve?"
Natasha gave her a meaningful look to which Olive shook her head. "I don't think I want to acknowledge that question."
They were both silent for a moment. Nat leaned back against the wall. "Mind if I say something? Then I'll keep my mouth shut about the whole thing."
"Since when have you had to ask my permission about anything?" Olive asked with a smirk.
"Since I'm trying to be nice. In my opinion, I do think you deserve a break. I think that you owe it to yourself. No offense, but you have a lot of issues you need to work out."
"Gee thanks."
"I said no offense. Either way, I think, if nothing else, Steve would enjoy your company. It's not like you two would have to spend every waking moment with each other but it would probably nice to have that company out there, in 'the real world'. I know you're probably thinking you can take care of yourself, but Steve . . . he's a good guy and anyone with eyes can tell that he's concerned about you. You could really help each other out but, even if you don't go with him," Natasha finished, gazing at Olive with that intense look, "take the break, Olive."
It was still weird and new hearing her name come out of her old friend's mouth. It would take some serious getting used to but she didn't mind. She looked at the redhead and Natasha looked back. A slight smile formed on both the old friends' faces. Then Natasha took a deep breath. "So just in case things do pick up between you and Cap . . . ."
"What?"
"Well, I'm just saying, if things get serious –"
"No. Nope. We are not now, nor are we ever having this conversation, Natasha. Not happening."
"Olive, I was teasing! Hey, come back!"
Steve leaned up against the car S.H.E.I.L.D. had issued him. They said it was easy to drive, an automatic. He was used to his motorcycle but knew that it wouldn't be practical to try to take all of his things (and hopefully Olive's) on his bike. He could just be reassured by the sight of his motorcycle hitched to the back.
He looked back to the entrance to the garage, waiting. He had told her they'd leave around 6, get a head start on most traffic. A quick check of his watch said that it was now 6:03. Not that he needed to be punctual and he thought about waiting a few more minutes but . . . he figured if she had honestly wanted to come, she would have said something.
Sighing, Steve turned around and opened the car door. He'd take the rejection as dignified as he possibly could.
"You absolutely would not believe how long an elevator takes." A grin came to Steve's face before he turned around. The door to the parking garage was closing and Olive was coming down the steps, her hands shoved into the pockets of her skinny jeans. "I mean seriously, how can you stand it?"
"I was wondering what was taking you so long." Steve moved forward to meet her, noting the lack of luggage or anything of the sort.
Olive gave him a small smile. "Hey there, Solider Boy," she said.
"Hey there, Doll."
"So we're sticking with that then?" Olive asked with a wrinkle of her brow.
"I think it fits."
"If you say so."
"I can't call you Glitch anymore."
"You might." Olive shrugged at Steve's raised eyebrow. "Dr. Simmons says my cells are mutating, or re-mutating, something like that. She thinks that, with a little training and practice, I might be able to get my powers back. If not, then you can start looking for new codenames. Natasha was thinking Rapier would be interesting, or Hornet, though I think that's purely for selfish reasons. Tony wants to call me Shredder . . . which I actually kind of like but don't tell him I said that."
"Lips are sealed." Steve crossed his arms, rocking back on his heels as he gazed at the woman in front of him. "You're not coming with me."
He didn't phrase it as a question; he already knew the answer. Olive's smile turned sad and she sighed heavily, shaking her head. "No, I'm not."
Steve nodded, looking away from her. "Can I ask why not?"
"It's nothing to do with you, if that's what you're thinking. You encouraged me; I am going to leave and, as much as I'd love to spend time with you, I don't think it's fair to you." She tapped her temple. "I've got some reconfiguring to do, some stuff I really need to work out. I need to figure out who I am, without SHIELD because I really don't know who that is. I don't want to burden you with that."
"You wouldn't be a burden," Steve told her, but he understood. He knew he had some reconfiguring to do as well. After all, it had only been a month or so since he had 'died' and woken up in an entirely different time. He supposed they'd be to focused trying to figure themselves out to really spend time together. "So – I guess this is it, then."
"For a little while," Olive agreed before she reached out to punch him lightly in the shoulder. "But you can't get rid of me that easily. You and me, remember? We're inseparable. You said it."
Steve smiled. "Yea I guess I did. Don't regret it. We might be pretty far apart though."
Olive shrugged. "That's the beauty of FaceTime."
"FaceTime?"
"We'll work on it. Plus, once you get settled somewhere, I'll come bug you. You haven't seen the last of me, Steve Rogers," she finished with a smirk.
"Works for me," Steve chuckled, holding open his arms. Olive stepped into his embrace, standing on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. He held her tight against him, his chin pressed gently into her shoulder. She felt so warm in his arms, smelt like chamomile and vanilla. They stood like that for a moment before she started to move away from him, her soft curls brushing against the side of his face. She leaned back, her hands against his chest but he didn't move his arms from around her waist.
Steve would never be sure who moved first; it was probably him because at that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. So he wasn't surprised when their lips met. He realized it hadn't been long since he had last kissed a girl, not for him anyway. Part of him would always feel a bit guilty for that, but kissing Olive felt right. Kissing her was like coming home after being away a long time, which he thought made sense. Olive had become something of an anchor for him, something to hold on to in this time he didn't belong in. None of that would ever erase Peggy, though, and that was something he knew he'd have to figure out during his time away from SHIELD. For right now though, it was just him and Liv, and that was what he wanted to focus on.
Olive broke away first, leaning back again though her fingers stayed curled into his shirt. Steve pressed his forehead against hers, examining her face. Her eyes were still closed, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. There was a slight blush on her cheeks that he didn't think he had ever seen before and that made him smile. "Well . . . ." she muttered.
"Yeah," Steve agreed.
She opened her eyes, those beautiful hazel eyes gazing deep into his. She blushed again, looking down as she tapped her finger against his chest. "We'll, er, have to figure that out later too."
"Agreed."
Not meeting his eye, Olive quickly leaned up, pressing a chaste kiss to his mouth before she slipped out of his arms, sticking her hands in her pockets again. She smiled again, giving him a mock salute. "I'll see you later, Soldier Boy."
Grinning, Steve returned the gesture. "See you, Doll."
She rolled her eyes, turning and walking away as he got into the car. He watched her as she walked all the way to the stairs, pausing at the door. Her hand on the handle, Olive turned to give him one last smile before she disappeared inside.
Smiling, he turned the key in the ignition. He pulled out of the stall and drove out of the garage, off to his next adventure.